Preceded by a waterfall release of five singles (“Changing Light of Love,” “This Is For You,” “Lost,” “Angels in the Garden,” “Rage of Days”), and two award-winning music videos with acclaimed Ukrainian artist Kseniya Simonova, The Ghost of Childhood, October Project’s latest full-length studio recording, evokes the feeling and ethos of their best loved recordings.
Featuring lead vocalist Marina Belica in close harmony with lyricist/co-vocalist Julie Flanders on an album of eleven songs, co-producers Emil Adler on keys and Julian Coryell (Alanis Morrissette) on guitars are joined by Mark Schulman (Pink) on drums, with brass, strings, choir and Flanders’ spoken word woven throughout.
“This album is meant to open and bridge us from where we were to where we are going next,” says Flanders. “Where we are in our lives is so different. There is the sense of being an adult and seeing the past with more forgiving eyes.” Flanders sings lead on the up-tempo “Perfect Time,” the album’s focus track, with Belica backing.
Music videos for two of the album’s singles were created in collaboration with acclaimed Ukrainian sand artist Kseniya Simonova. “Angels in the Garden,” won a Silver Telly and was up for a Music Video GRAMMY in 2024, marking the band’s 9th GRAMMY ballot appearance. “This Is For You,” broke new ground with the digital animation of Simonova’s color paintings and was an Official Selection at the 2024 American Documentary and Animation Festival. The band maintains an ongoing fundraiser, Angels For Ukraine, for the International Rescue Committee’s efforts to help women and children affected by the war.
Since the band’s debut in the 1990s, the trio has remained true to each other - and their music. They built their initial following in Lower Manhattan clubs and coffeehouses, expanding to international acclaim with their first two albums, October Project (1993) and Falling Farther In (1995) for Epic Records.
Offers Adler, “The band came together around the idea of making beautiful music that we ourselves would love. At the heart and center of the band have always been the songs and the vocals.” Through their many projects, performances and recordings, October Project continues to innovate the landscape of independent music.
Marina Belica, Julie Flanders, and Emil Adler
All compositions written by Julie Flanders (words) and Emil Adler (music)
Produced by Emil Adler & Julian Coryell
Mixed by Erich Gobel at West Triad Studios in Venice, CA
Mastered by Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering in Los Angeles, CA
Recording Engineers
Basic tracks, strings, brass and percussion – Eric Gobel at West TriadStudios
Additional guitars – Julian Coryell at West Triad Studios
Vocals – Emil Adler at Tritone Productions in Montclair, NJ
Choral vocals on Angels in the Garden – Randy Crafton atKaleidoscope Sound in Union City, NJ
Pre-production basic tracks – Emmet Sargeant at Playback Recording Studioin Santa Barbara, CA
Musicians
Lead vocals – Marina Belica
Co-vocals and spoken word (lead vocal on Perfect Time) – Julie Flanders
Piano, keyboards and vocals – Emil Adler
Bass guitar, electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, mandolin, and percussion – Julian Coryell
Drums – Mark Schulman
Strings – The Ghost String Quartet
Strings – The Venice Brass Ensemble
Saxophones – Jim Wheeler
Chorus on Angels in the Garden – Colleen Clancy (soprano), Jamie Serkin (alto), Peter Lam (tenor), Ian Janer (tenor) and Keiji Ishiguri (baritone), all from The Lost Keys
Bass Guitar on Perfect Time – M.E. ‘Eje’ Lynn-Jacobs
String, brass and sax arrangements – Emil Adler and Julian Coryell
Choral arrangement on Angels in the Garden – Keiji Ishiguri
Pre-production drums – Craig Thatcher
Album package
Art Design – Mick Wieland Design
Cover Image – Ali Cavanaugh
Photographs – Nina Goodheart
Angels
Mark Griffin, Bill Mills, Harlan Stone
Thanks
Ed Boyer
Bill Hare
Ulrich Vilbois & CTGS
Phoebe Cavise
Kseniya Simonova
Lazar Nikolovski
The Worldwide Choir of Return to Me
Charlie Hawkings
Ruby Welkovich
Lucy Powers
Samantha White
Paul Belica
Steven, Ben & Serena Lowy
Julian Adler
Samuel Flanders
Dave Sabatino
Urbano Sanchez
Anita Daly
Ariel Hyatt
Jeremy Morrison
Peter Bay
Martha Beck
Marina Belica • Julie Flanders • Emil Adler
octoberprojectmusic.com
P.O. Box 2223, New Preston, CT 06777